Dust collector



y 1936- R. c. NEWHOUSE El AL 2,047,908

DUST COLLECTOR Filed Jan. 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1////IIIIIIII/I//(IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIII/II y 1936- R. c. NEWHOUISE ET AL2,047,908

DUST COLLECTOR Filed Jan. 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 14,1936 PATENT orrlce DUST COLLECTOR Ray 0. Newhouse, Terryl ,B.Montgomery, and Robert F. Feind, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignors toAllis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, 'Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofDelaware Application January 5, 1933, Serial No. 650,256

14 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a dust collector of the typewherein fabric bags are used tov separate suspended solids from gases,and more particularly to'improved apparatus for al- 'sternatelyslackening and tensioning'the various bags of a dust collector in apredetermined periodically recurring sequence.

'In the dust collecting art it has heretofore been proposed to shake thebags of a dust collector by means of various mechanical mechanisms, forexample, by means of a continuously rotating shaft having a plurality ofbag shaking cams thereon and mechanical mechanism for periodicallymoving a bag shaking member "into and out of the path'of' travel of saidcams.

In such systems it is extremely difficult and hazardous to make repairsor adjustments on the various bag shaking units because of thecontinually rotating cams which cannot .be stopped without shutting downthe whole installation Moreover, in such systems it is impossible toreadily determine whether or not all of the units are. properlycompleting their cycle of operations. In bag shakers of the prior arttrouble has also been experienced with the mechanism which connects thebags and the cams; often resulting in breakage due to the large impactforces occurring when the bags are suddenly snapped upwardly.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate the abovedifiiculties by providing a dust collector system in which the variousdust collecting units are individually operated by cam shafts driven byelectric motors which are automatically started in a predeterminedsequence by means of switch mechanism and each stopped after apredetermined number of revolutions so that the bags always remain intheir slackened position during the time the motors are at rest.

Another object of the invention is to provide independent of theautomatic mechanism A further object of the invention is to provide adust collector system in which a motor driving a cam-actuated bagshaking unit is periodically started, and thereafter maintained runningfor a predetermined number of alternate bag slackening and tensioningoperations by means of a limit switch which may be adjusted so that themotor driven cam stops at variable positions so as to thereby adjustablypredetermine the amount of slack maintained in the bags while the motoris idle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bag shakingsystem in which the shock of the sudden tensioning of the bags iscushioned by means of a spring which is interposed 1 between each bagsupporting member and the mechanism which is operatively biased intoengagement with the motor driven cam.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by this invention,various novel features of which will be apparent from the descriptionand drawings herein, and will be more particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Various illustrative examples of the application of this invention areshown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an improved bag shaking mechanism embodyingfeatures of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a dust collecting system embodyingfeatures of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the bag shaking mechanismcomprises a bed plate 10 having a lever .II which is provided with afulcrum pin I2 journaled in bearings l3 which are mounted on the bedplate in. The right hand end of lever H is provided with a hole having aspherical bearing surface adapted to engage a spherical enlargement onsleeve member M which projects through said hole. A connecting rod [-5is threaded through sleeve member I4 and is adjustably locked thereto bymeans of nut 1-6. The lower part of connecting rod I5 slidably extendsthrough guide sleeve I! which is attached to bag supporting frame l8. Acushioning spring 19 is interposed between the sleeve member 11 and nut21 which is attached to connecting rod 15. A plurality of dustcollecting bags 22 are symmetrically attached to frame member 13 bymeans of bag head members 2.3 and bolt members 24. Lever member H isalso provided with a trunnion 25 upon which a saddle block 26 isdownwardly biased by means of springs 21 and 28, noting that guide block29, located between the upper and lower sections of the springs, isprovided to prevent bucking of these springs. A spring cap 3| isadjustably held in place by means of lock nuts 32 on tension rod 33which is connected at its lower 'end to base member ID. A pair of safetyrods 34 extends from saddle block 26 slidably through lugs on spring cap3|v and serves to prevent springs 21 and 28 from flying upward and alsoserves to hold springs 21 and 28 in compression when such springs arebeing replaced. The left handend of lever isprovided with a renewablewear plate 35 adapted to be pressed into engagement with cam 36 by meansof the above described.v

springs. Cam 36 is keyed or otherwise secured to cam shaft 31 which isjournaled in bearings 38 carried by base member I8. I I p Referring nowto Fig. 3, the dust collector system comprises a plurality of separatedust collector units 39, 48 and 4|. Each of these units is incommunication with a sourc'e of dust laden 25' r tric motor 46 throughspeed reducer 41, which is air of which conduit 42 is a part. Dust ladenair' is carried from conduit 42, when valve 43 is open, through header44 and upwardly through the various dust collecting'bags 22. The gasfilters through the fabric of bags 22 leaving the solid particlesbehind, which are periodically precipitated into collecting hoppers 45.

Cam shaft 31 is driven at a low speed byelecpreferably of the gear type.An electromagnetically releasable friction brake 48 has its solenoid 49connected across the terminals of motor 46. The electric motor ofeach'unit is connectible to conductors |,-52 and 53 of a power line bymeans of line switch 54 when the operating coil 55 thereof is energizedfrom the'controlbus 56, 51 which is in turn connected to conductors5|and 52 or any other suitable source of power.

Apparatus 58 for periodically initiating the starting of the respective.motors comprises a drum controller 59 adapted to be continuously rotatedby means of anelectric motor 6| which is connected theretobymeansofgearing 62, or any suitable ratcheting device. Motor 6| is normallyconnected to power line 63 through switch' 64 and fuses 65,"noti ng thatthis power line may be energized from the same source as power linehaving conductors 5|, 52 and 53,'or from a different power source.A'conductor 66 is normally connected to conductor 5| by means ofno-voltage relay 6?. A plurality of contacts including 68, 69, 18' arearranged to be periodically and sequentially bridged by means of aplurality of spaced segments including II, 12 and 13, whichare'preferably of the quick acting type in order that circuits may bebroken thereby in event of the failure of a limit switch as will be moreparticularly described hereinafter. Control lines 14,

relay, having its operating coil 82 connected in parallel with operatingcoil 55, is provided with normally open contacts 83; and a relay, havingan operating coil 84' connected across control bus 56, 51 throughoverload switch 8|, is provided with 0011530585 which is held open aslong,

as switch 8| is closed and potential exists on the control bus. Atransformer 86, energized from conductors 52 and 53, is arranged tosupply current to signal lamp 8'! when contacts 83 are nected across theterminals of motor 46.

The automatic operation of the above described apparatus is as follows.All of the switches and apparatus are shown in the positionscorrespondingto complete shut-down of the dust collector system, notingthat dust laden gas will continue 7 to flow tothe various units unlessthe blowers (not shown) associated with the source of dust laden gas"are also stopped. In order to start the system, it is necessary to closeswitch 64, thus starting motor6 and also closing relay 61. With drumcontroller 59 in the position shown, closure of relay 61 will establisha starting circuit for the motor associatedwith unit 39 from conductor5| through the contacts of relay 61, contacts 68 and 1|, conductor 14,through stop push buttons 88 and 18' associated with unit 39, throughbothoperating coils 55 and 82in parallel, through overload switch 8| tocontrol bus 51 which is, connected to line conductor 52. Energization ofoperating coil 55 causes line switch 54 to close,

thereby causing motor 46 associated with unit 39 to start rotating in aclockwise direction. After a predetermined number of revolutions ofmotor 46 cam 92 will close limit switch 9| which thereupon establishes amaintaining-circuit for operating coil 55 which may be traced fromcontrol 7 bus 56 through switch 9|, through auxiliary contact 98,through stop buttons 88 and 18, through operating coil 55, and throughoverload switch 8| to control bus 51. It is thus to be noted that q thecontinued rotation of'drum controller 59 so that contact breaksengagement'with contacts 68 will not stop the motor 46 inasmuch as.theabove described maintaining circuit is independent of theaforedescribed starting circuit.

Simultaneous with the energization of motor 4'6 solenoid 49 will releasebrake 48 and solenoid 95 will operate to, stop the flow of dust laden asfrom conduit 42 to header 44. V

The energization of the relay having operating coil 82 simultaneouslywith the energization of operating coil will close contacts 83, therebylighting lamp 81 to give a visual indication that motor 46 of unit 39 isin operation. After cam shaft 31 has rotated through a portion of arevolution the shouldersof cams 36 will move out of engagement with thecorresponding wear-plates 35, thus permitting springs 2'! and 28 tosuddenly rotate levers in a counter-clockwise direction,

thereby snapping bags 22 in an upward direction. Due to inertia the bagsupporting frame l8 will move a greater distance than the actual travelof the right hand end of lever H and upon return of the frame .|8 theshock of the rebound will'be absorbed by cushioning spring. l9 whichwill thereupon act. to impart a secondary shaking motion to thesuspended bags 22. v 1 'Aftera predeterminednurnber of bag shakingoperations. as above described cam 92 will have rotated into such'aposition that switch 9| will snap open, thereby breaking the maintainingcircuit for line switch 54.. Thedeenergization of motor 48 willimmediately'cause the application of brake 48 and the opening of valve43 by means of spring .94. Theopeningof valve 43 again startsv the dustof the operation of the system. Gain 92 is of such a shape that switch91 be opened in timed relation with respect to the position. of cams 36so that when the motor 45' comes to rest, the lobes of cams 35 will holdthe bags 22 in their slachened position. It has been found that the bagsintheir slackened position often lengthen and form loops which constrictthe flow of dust laden gas therethrcu h, and to obviate this limitswitch 91 is constructed so that it may be caused to open in adjustablerelation with respect to the position of cams. 36 so that the motor maybe stopped in such a position that the cams 36 will not have actuatedthe bags 22 to their completely slankened position. For example, theamount of slack in the bags can be adjusted by adjusting the angularposition of cam 92 with respect to the cam shaft 31.

, The continued rotation of drum controller 59 causes segment 12 tobridge contacts 59, thereby establi-shinga starting circuit for themotor associated with unit 40 through conductor 15. The energization ofconductor 1-5 from. line conductor 51 through relay 6!, and contacts 69and 72 through operating 55 oi the line switch 54 associated with motor46 of unit 4-8 initiates a cycle of operations which is exactly the sameas that above described, and need not, therefore,

befurther described. It is to be noted, however, that contact segment 12on drum controller 59 may be so spaced withrespect to contact segment Hthat. the second unit will be started either slightly before or slightlyafter the first unit.

completed its cycle of operations.

A further rotation of drum controller 59 will cause contact segment 13to bridge contacts Hi, thereby establishing a starting circuit throughconductor 16 and operating coil 55 of the line switch associated withunit M and so on for the other units of the system which, for the sakeof simplicity, have not been showm. It is to be understood that a.complete dust'collector system will usuallvcomprise more units thanherein illustrated and that the various units will be arrangedthroughout the structure which system in such a manner that there willbe a plurality of units in various parts of the structure operating atall times and in overlapping sequence. 7

.I-f an overload should occur in any one of the above described motorsthermal overload switch 8i will open, thereby stopping the corresponding7 motor and preventing the re-starting of the same until the trouble hasbeen ascertained. The opening of overload switch 81 deenergizesoperating coil 84, thereby causing contacts 85 to close, which thereuponclose the circuit to signal lamp 88 and an-nunciator 89 whichimmediately warn the operator that a motor has stopped for some abnormalreason. a 7

Any one of the above described units may be manually started and stoppedin a number at difi-erent ways. For example, if it is desired to makerepairs or adjustments on any unit push button 18 located in thevicinity of that may be opened and in this position it is impossible forthe drum controller tostart the motor and it is also impossible for anoperator at the switch board panel to start that particular motor bymeans of push button 7-9. However, it is possible for the repair man toinch the bag shaker mechanism to any desired position by means of pushbutton 11 provided stop button l8 or 80 is opened. noting thatii stopbuttons 18 and 88 are both closed it is possible to initiate thestarting of the motor associated therewith by means of either pnshbutton11 or 19, in which event the stopping will be under the control of limitswitch 91 in the usual fashion. It is thus seenv that it is possible tomanually control the starting and stopping of any one of the unitseither from a remote control or from a point adjacent the motor by meansof manually controlled push buttons independent of the automaticoperation normally initiated by the continually rotating drum controller59..

If .it desired to completely shut down the system,'switch 54 will beopened causes relay 61 to drop, noting, however, that any unit then inoperation continue its cycle of operacome to rest with the bags in theirslackened position. If it were not for relay 61 the stopping of drumcontroller 59 on an active contact. position would cause one or more ofthe units to continue their shaking operation indefinitely.

It to be understood that the invention claimed herein is not limited tothe exact details of construction herein illustrated, for obviousmodifications will be apparent to persons skilled in'the art. withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A dust collector comprising in combination, a source of dust ladengas, a dust collecting unit having at least one vertically disposed bagarranged to receive dust laden gas from said source, means foralternately slackening and tensioning said bag comprising an electricmotor, a cam driven by said motor and also comprising mechanism foroperatively connecting said cam with said bag, switch mechanism forperiodically initiating the starting of said motor, and means driven inaccordance with the rotation oi said cam for keeping said motor runninguntil said cam has wmpleted a predetermined number of revolutions, saidlast means including mechanism for stopping said motor in such aposition that said cam and said mechanism associated therewith maintainsaid bag in its slackened condition while said motor isat rest.

2. A dust collector comprising in combination, a source of dust ladengas, a dust collecting unit having at least one vertically disposed bagarranged to receive dust laden gas from said source, means foralternately slackening and tensioning said bag commising an electricmotor, a cam driven by said motor and bag suspending mechanism operableby said cam, switch mechanism for periodically the starting of saidmotor, and switch means actuated by the rotation of said cam for keepingsaid motor running until said cam has rotated a predetermined number ofrevolutions, said switch means including mechanism adjustable to causesaid cam to stop at various positions relative to said bag suspendingmechanism so as to thereby adjustably predetermine the slack in said bagduring the time said motor is idle- 3- A dust collector comprising incombination, a source of dust laden gas, a dust collecting unit havingat least one vertically disposed bag arranged to receive dust laden gasfrom said source,

7 means for alternately slackening and tensioning for periodicallyinitiating the starting of. said motor, and switch means actuated by therotation of said cam for keeping said motor running until said cam has'rotateda predetermined number of revolutions, said switch meansincluding mechanism adjustableto stop said motor in timed relation tothe position of said cam so as to thereby adjustably predetermine theamount of slack maintained in said bagv while said motor is idle.

4. A dust collecting system comprising in combination; a source of dustladen gas,.a plurality of dust collecting units each having 'a pluralityof vertically disposed bags arranged 'to receive dust laden gas fromsaid source, a-valve for each unit operable to' stop the flow of dustladen gas to the unit associated therewith, each unit having, meansrforperiodically'shaking the bags thereof,

said shaking means comprising an individual electric motor and a camshaft driven thereby said line switches sequentially and periodically,said switch mechanism comprising a continually rotating controlleroperable to sequentially and periodically establish control circuits forsaid line switches, each unit having a control switch actuated upon therotation of said motors respec tively to maintain the respective controlcircuits bination, a source of dust laden gas, a plurality of dustcollecting units each havinga plurality.

line, switch mechanism operable to automaticallyclose said line switchessequentially and periodically, said switchmechanism comprising acontinually rotating controller' operable to sequentially andperiodically establish control circuits for said line switches, eachunit having a control switch actuated upon the rotation of said motorsrespectively to maintain the respective control circuits established bysaid controller and to interrupt said control circuits respectivelyaftersaid respective cam shafts have rotated a predetermined number ofrevolutions, and a solenoid,

for each unit connected so as to be energized simultaneously with theclosure of said line switches to-close said valves respectively.

'6. A dust collecting system comprising in combination, a source of dustladen gas, a plurality of dust collecting units each having a'pluralityof vertically disposed bags arranged to receive dust laden gas from saidsource, a valve for each unit operable to stop the fiow'of dust ladengas to the unit associated therewith, means for-alternately slackeningand snapping upwardly the bags of each unit comprising a separateelectric motor and camshaft for each unit, a power line, a plurality ofline switches each operable to connect anddisconnect one of saidelectric motors to j and from said-power line, switch mechanism 5. Adust collecting system comprising incomclosure and opening thereof bysaid controller means-driven from sai-dcam shaft for maintaining therespective control circuits established by said master switch and forinterrupting said control circuits respectively :after a predeterminednumber of revolutions of the respective cam shafts, andelectromagnetic'means responsive to the energization of said motorsrespectively for closing the valves associated therewith. 7. A dustcollecting system comprising in com bination, asource of dust'laden gas,a plurality of; 1 dust collectingunitseach.having a plurality ofvertically disposed bags arranged to receive dust laden gas from saidsource, 'a valve for each unit operable to stop the flow of dust ladengas to the unit associated therewith, each unit having means ,2

for periodically shaking the'bag's thereof, said shaking meanscomprising an individual electric motor and a cam shaftdriven therebyfor each unit, a power line, a plurality of line switches each operableto connect and disconnect one of said 25 motors to and from said powerline, switchmechanism operable to automatically close said line switchessequentially and periodically, said switch mechanism comprising acontinually rotating controller operabletosequentially and periodicallyestablish control circuits for said line switches, each unit having acontrol switch actuated upon the rotation of, said motors respec-'-tively to maintain the respective controlcircuits establishedby saidcontroller and to interrupt said control circuits respectively aftersaid're spective cam shaftshave rotated a predetermined number ofrevolutions, and manually operable switches selectively operable toclose and open any one of said line switches independent of the and saidcontrol switch. j V V v 8. A dust collector comprising in combination, asource of dust laden gas, a plurality of dust collecting units eachhaving a plurality of vertically disposed bags arranged to receive dustladen gas from said source, a valve for each unit operable to'st'op theflow of dust laden'gas to the unit associated therewith, each unithaving means for alternately slackening and suddenly te'nsioning thebags thereof, said means comprising an in-' dividual electric motor, acam shaft driven thereby and also comprising a resilient connectionbetween said cams and saidbags, switch mechanism for periodicallyc'ausing'said motors to start and stop in a predetermined sequence, andmeans for closing the valves associated with the respective units whilethe motor associated therewith is running. V

9. A dust collector comprising in combination, 6 a source of dust ladengas, a plurality of dust col; lecting units each having a plurality ofvertically disposed bags arranged to receive dust laden gas from saidsource, a valve for each unit operable to stop the flow of dust ladengas to the unit asso- 6 ciated therewithyeach unit having 'means for Ialternately slackening and suddenly tensioning the bags thereof, saidmeans comprising a plua rality of c'amsand an electric motor drivinglyconnected with said cams and also comprising a plurality of springs forresiliently cushioning the sudden tensioning of said bags, and means forperiodically starting and stopping said motors in a predeterminedsequence;

10. A dust collector comprisingin combination,

a source of dust laden gas, a plurality of dust collecting units eachhaving at least one bag supporting member with a plurality of verticallydis- I posed bags attached thereto and arranged to receive dust ladengas from said source, each unit having at least one lever, means forresiliently connecting said bag supporting member to one end of saidlever, a rotatable cam arranged to actuate the other end of said lever,spring means arranged to bias said other end of said lever intoengagement with said cam, whereby said spring means is operable toperiodically snap said bag supporting member upwardly during therotation of said cam.

11. A dust collector, comprising in combination, a plurality of dustcollecting units each having a plurality of vertically disposed bagsarranged to receive dust laden gas, a lever associated with the bags ofeach unit and having one end resiliently connected thereto, means for soresiliently biasing each lever as to tension its associated bags, arotatable cam associated with each lever and arranged to alternatelymove said lever against said biasing means to slacken said bags andrelease said biasing means to permit sudden tensioning of said bags, andmeans for periodically rotating each cam to actuate its associatedlever.

12. A dust collector, comprising in combination, a dust collecting bagarranged to receive dust laden gas, a bag supporting member attached tosaid bag, resilient means disposed to support said bag supportingmember, and a bag shaking device including a motor driven cam and aspring arranged to exert an impact upon said bag supporting memberthrough said resilient means to snap said member upward to tension saidbag, said resilient means functioning to prevent excessive dynamicforces occurring in said bag shaking device when said bag is suddenlytensioned.

13. A dust collector, comprising a plurality of groups of dustcollecting bags, means associated with each of said groups of bags forshaking the bags to clean them, an electric motor connected to each ofsaid bag group shaking means to drive it, an electrical control systemconnected to said motors of said bag group shaking means and arranged toactuate them automatically in continually recurring sequence to cleaneach of said bag groups periodically, means associated with each of saidmotors for disconnecting it from said control system automatically uponthe occurrence of abnormal conditions of operation, and means forindicating at a distance the functioning of said automatic disconnectingmeans preventing operation of its associated bag group shaking means insequence.

14. A dust collector, comprising a plurality of groups of dustcollecting bags, means associated with each of said groups of bags forshaking the bags to clean them, an electric motor operatively connectedto each of said bag group shaking means, an electrical control systemconnected to i said motors and arranged to initiate the operation ofsaid motors automatically in continually recurring sequence, meansactuated by each motor arranged to maintain said motor in operationuntil its associated bag shaking means has completed a predeterminedcycle, and means for regulating said maintaining means to cause it tostop said bag shaking means with the bags in selected predeterminedposition.

RAY C. NEWHOUSE. ROBERT F. FEIND. TERRYL B. MONTGOMERY.

